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Home My WebLink About06-16-2011 PZ MinutesCITY OF SEBASTIAN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING JUNE 16, 2011 Chairman Dodd called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. The pledge of allegiance was said by all. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Roth Mr. Dodd Ms. Hennessey (a) Mr. Carter Mr. Reyes Mr. Kayser (a) Mr. Qizilbash Mr. Durr Mr. Hepler Jan King, Interim Growth Management Director Dorri Bosworth, Zoning Technician Robert Ginsburg, City Attorney Joe Griffin, Airport Director ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mr. Dodd welcomed Ms. Hennessey as a new alternate to the Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: IC C .� m C � � E o as :! c.co -2 -gig c 2ocg a0 CON Fain MOTION by Durr /Hepler to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2011 Regular Meeting as submitted. Motion was approved unanimously by voice vote. MOTION by Kayser /Reyes to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2011 LPA Meeting as submitted. Motion was approved unanimously by voice vote. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: A. QUASI- JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING — SITE PLAN ADDITION — WIND TURBINE FACILITY AT SEBASTIAN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT HANGAR B — 212 AIRPORT DRIVE EAST Mr. Dodd opened the hearing and the Commissioners were asked if they had any exparte communication to disclose. There was none. Mr. Ginsburg swore in anyone that was going to offer testimony. Jan King reviewed the history of the project stating the site plan for the building was reviewed by the Commission in March, and because of lack of information at the time, the wind turbines shown on the plan were excluded. Additional information was now available and was now being presented to the Commission for their review, with Mr. Joe Griffin, Airport Director, present for any questions. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2011 Mr. Carter asked why the amount of turbines was reduced from 5 to 2, and noted the site plan showed a concrete pad by the turbines. Since the turbines were only 20 feet high he was concerned parking of trucks on the pad would restrict air flow. Mr. Griffin stated the proposed concrete pad was going to be eliminated. Based on the public bid process, staff decided to go with only two turbines. The city would still get the same six - kilowatt hour rating. The two 3- kilowatt hour devices would be the same height as the proposed five, being a bit wider in diameter, but more efficient. The energy produced by the turbines will feed back into the grid thru a net metering system, and the airport will get a credit from FPL. Mr. Durr questioned how many security street lighting [poles] this would benefit. Mr. Griffin stated approximately 6 to 7 poles connected to the meter. Mr. Durr asked what the dollar payback would be. Mr. Griffin responded it would be variable based on the wind speed. The 6kw system generated power at approx. 6 mph winds. The higher the winds, the higher the payback. Based on NASA surveys, the average annual wind speed for Sebastian is 9.44 mph. Assuming that speed at 50% of the time, enough money [credit] would be earned to pay off the system in about ten years. Mr. Kayser wanted to know if there was a maximum wind velocity the turbines could take and did they shut down. Mr. Griffin stated the maximum velocity was 55 mph, and they shut down at 110 mph. If a hurricane came through, the wind blades could be disassembled by city crews with the bucket truck. Mr. Hepler asked what the costs for each turbine were. Mr. Griffin relayed that the installed costs for the system, including the inverters, was $44,300. One variable cost that may have to be incurred is $1500 for an FAA study check [because of the vertical construction], but because a check was done on Hangar B, which is taller than the turbines, one may not be needed. He explained the cost for the Hangar B project, which the turbines were a part of, was $1.45 million, with $1.16 million coming from FDOT and 20 %, or $290,000, from the City. Ms. Hennessey asked if the turbines were safe from the storms that pop up quickly. Mr. Griffin stated he was confident they were safe. It was a new industry, but they had a clutch mechanism to slow at excess speeds. Mr. Reyes questioned where the wind would come from with regards to the height of the surrounding structures, including the 32 ft high golf net, and was the turbines ever considered to be placed on top of the buildings as shown in the agenda packet examples. Mr. Griffin responded that the prevailing wind for Sebastian is out of the East to Northeast, and roof -top mounting was considered, but because of structural and aesthetic reasons they decided to place them vertical from the ground. Mr. Reyes asked if any other type of product was looked at. Mr. Griffin said solar is Tess efficient, and the credit from FPL is less for propane or CNG. Mr. Qizilbash asked what happened if there was no wind for a week and if another location was considered. Mr. Griffin stated there would still be FPL service to power the lighting. There were numerous locations at the airport to construct the turbines, but it was decided to keep them near the buildings and close to the metering system. Mr. Roth commended Mr. Griffin for the project and being on the forefront using the new technology. He verified that the proposed turbines were the ones with the vertical 2 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2011 panels. Mr. Griffin stated, yes, and that each panel was an air foil shaped like a wing. Millings instead of concrete in the drive aisle area was also discussed. Mr. Dodd asked what was the percentage of the power needs for the security lighting. Mr. Griffin stated he did not have the percentage figures but that the security lights cost an average $200 a month. The credit back from FPL is half the cost of retail. Net return, per month, could be $140 to $170 a month. Ms. Hennessey asked if there was any risk [to surrounding properties] if an abundance of energy (surges) went back into the system. Mr. Griffin stated there were safe -guard installations that both the city and contractor had to put into agreements with FPL. Public Input was opened. Mr. Ben Hocker, 124 Larchmont Terrace, asked about the sharing of the credits at different meters, specifically Hangar B. Ms. King summarized staff recommended approval. Mr. Dodd opined that this project probably was not guaranteed to get a payback, but the city is beginning its process to find alternative energy sources, and he liked the project. Mr. Carter noted he also was glad for the city and its forward thinking. MOTION by Durr /Roth to approve the 212 Airport Drive East modified site plan. ROLL CALL: Mr. Durr yes Mr. Qizilbash yes Mr. Hepler yes Mr. Reyes yes Mr. Roth yes Mr. Carter yes Mr. Dodd yes The vote was 7 -0. Motion passed. CHAIRMAN MATTERS: Mr. Dodd asked if the review of the zoning districts would be going anywhere. Ms. King stated there were a couple more districts to still come before the Commission. MEMBERS MATTERS: Mr. Hepler discussed his frustration with getting site plans to review that have already been accepted or "put in play" such as Mulligan's [and the parking —in -lieu program], the change to Fisherman's Landing of the observatory to a child's play area, and the BSSC football fields. He felt the Commission was asked to rubber stamp projects. As a commissioner, he did not want to be liable if something went wrong. Mr. Roth stated he felt the same, especially regarding city projects where they were expressed to be "all working towards the same goal ", and rubber stamping wasn't really looking out for the best interests of the city and its residents. 3 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2011 Mr. Reyes stated it appeared that a lot of the city projects are coming before the Commission with incomplete plans, that the city should be held to the higher standard, and he hoped this was changed in the future. DIRECTOR MATTERS: Ms. King gave an update on the two sign ordinances that had been reviewed by the LPA. ATTORNEY MATTERS: Mr. Ginsburg stated he was going to organize an information session for all of the city's board and committee members to discuss the Sunshine Law, procedures, case studies, and basic standards etc. Chairman Dodd adjourned the meeting at 7:54 p.m. (6/20/11 db) 4